Why Is It Wrong For CIA Director Gina Haspel To Applaud President Trump During The State of the Union Address

CIA Director Gina Haspel applauds during President Donald Trump's State of the Union address at the Capitol on Tuesday. NBC News

NBC: CIA's Haspel applauds during Trump's State of the Union speech, surprising some intel officials

In the Obama and Bush administrations, CIA directors did not attend the address. But Trump made the CIA director a Cabinet post, meaning Gina Haspel was invited.

WASHINGTON — When CIA Director Gina Haspel walked into the House chamber Tuesday night to attend President Donald Trump's State of the Union address, some former agency officers took note. When she began standing and clapping during what some considered a highly partisan speech, a few were surprised.

"She's applauding like a trained aquarium seal at every line, just like a member of the House GOP caucus, even on domestic stuff," a former officer said. "Holy crow."

In the mind of this former officer and others interviewed by NBC News, the CIA director should hold herself apart from a president's partisan rhetoric — especially the sentiments of a president who has frequently disparaged the intelligence community.

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Update: 'I never did that': Haspel's clapping for Trump rankles intel veterans (Politico)

WNU Editor: A non-issue in my book. Everyone has opinions and political loyalties, including the CIA Director. But in today's Washington where everything is now a partisan issue, even clapping for President Trump will involve scrutiny and (in this case) negative press.

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